Atonement Literary Analysis
Atonement “Abandonment As The Central Theme”
While the title of Ian McEwan’s novel is Atonement, atonement itself can not be the driving theme of this work. The fact that atonement is ever achieved or even sought out by Briony can be greatly debated. This is because of the effects abandonment, the true theme, has on her. Abandonment not only plays a driving role in Briony’s character but also greatly impacts every character in the novel. Although abandonment manifests itself in many different outlets depending on the character, it is the central theme behind all of the stories conflicts. The key figure behind much of the abandonment issues is Jack Tallis. The absent father and husband to Emily, Cecilia, Leon, and Briony. In part 1, chapter 12 we find out that he is an unfaithful husband to Emily which has many lingering effects on Emily's relationship with her children. Jack's absence from his children's lives also plays a major role in many of their issues and actions. Although Jack Tallis presence in the novel is lacking, his impact on the characters and events that transpire is substantial. Emily Tallis has had abandonment and obscurity issues since she was a child. An example of this is when during her childhood Emily sliced open her hand, covering her sister Hermoine in blood. A dozen adults all rushed to comfort a crying Hermoine while "Emily lay in obscurity on the floor"(138). These childhood issues would linger into her adulthood, "There was a presence in the room, her aggrieved, overlooked ten-year-old self, a girl even quieter than Briony, who used to wonder at the emptiness of time, and marvel that the nineteenth century was about to end. How like her to sit in a room like this, not joining in."(141). These feelings where later worsened by her relationship with her husband Jack. He was an unfaithful husband but her fear of being abandoned by him caused her to rationalize his actions and look the
While the title of Ian McEwan’s novel is Atonement, atonement itself can not be the driving theme of this work. The fact that atonement is ever achieved or even sought out by Briony can be greatly debated. This is because of the effects abandonment, the true theme, has on her. Abandonment not only plays a driving role in Briony’s character but also greatly impacts every character in the novel. Although abandonment manifests itself in many different outlets depending on the character, it is the central theme behind all of the stories conflicts. The key figure behind much of the abandonment issues is Jack Tallis. The absent father and husband to Emily, Cecilia, Leon, and Briony. In part 1, chapter 12 we find out that he is an unfaithful husband to Emily which has many lingering effects on Emily's relationship with her children. Jack's absence from his children's lives also plays a major role in many of their issues and actions. Although Jack Tallis presence in the novel is lacking, his impact on the characters and events that transpire is substantial. Emily Tallis has had abandonment and obscurity issues since she was a child. An example of this is when during her childhood Emily sliced open her hand, covering her sister Hermoine in blood. A dozen adults all rushed to comfort a crying Hermoine while "Emily lay in obscurity on the floor"(138). These childhood issues would linger into her adulthood, "There was a presence in the room, her aggrieved, overlooked ten-year-old self, a girl even quieter than Briony, who used to wonder at the emptiness of time, and marvel that the nineteenth century was about to end. How like her to sit in a room like this, not joining in."(141). These feelings where later worsened by her relationship with her husband Jack. He was an unfaithful husband but her fear of being abandoned by him caused her to rationalize his actions and look the